The program, which operates out of CU’s law school, is now named the Korey Wise Innocence Project at Colorado Law. Wise’s donation made it possible for the project to hire a full-time director this fall. It also provides financial support for its investigative work.

Wise was just 16 when he was charged, tried and convicted as an adult in the 1989 attack and rape of a white female jogger in Central Park. He spent more than 10 years behind bars before being exonerated in 2002 after another man admitted to the attack.

The convictions of four other men were also overturned. The men settled with the city of New York for $41 million in 2014.

We are proud of Wise for using his money and energy to help others avoid the pain and suffering he endured behind bars.